STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1100

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 606

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 606, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriate funds for the dwelling unit revolving fund and the rental housing revolving fund.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; AARP Hawai‘i; Catholic Charities Hawai‘i; Hawaiian Humane Society; Partners In Care; Stanford Carr Development, LLC; Hawai‘i Association of Realtors; Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction Center; AlohaCare; and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii has an ongoing housing crisis that was exacerbated by the economic difficulties brought on by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. During the past year, many residents have found themselves either unemployed or facing reduced hours at work. During these difficult economic times, it is critical that residents have access to affordable housing. Without access to affordable housing, many residents face the prospect of leaving the State or becoming homeless. By appropriating funds into the dwelling unit revolving fund and the rental housing revolving fund as provided in this measure, more affordable housing units can be built to provide homes for Hawaii residents.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation amount for the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund from an unspecified amount to $20,000,000; and

(2) Changing the appropriation amount for the Rental Housing Revolving Fund from an unspecified amount to $25,000,000.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 606, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 606, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Housing,

________________________________

STANLEY CHANG, Chair